Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-02
GREEN MANuRlNG.


o0e6UV WkANOdUNSs
The Most Natural Way OF Increasing tAs
Prod0ctivsness of Soil.
Natures way of fertilizing soils is to
produce inferior plants ON them. which
by the process Of growth appropriate
through their leaves valuable substance
from the air. and by their roots bring
to the surface equally valuable sub
stances that are deep in the earth.
These plants by the process of decay
become humus or vegetable mold. It
contains in addition to purely vegetable
matter much nitrogen, lime and pot
ash. and some silica in a state Of
minute subdivision. It has the power
of retaining moisture and of fixing
ammonia and carbonic acid. It enables
the soil to produce a better class of
plants than those that have passed into
state of decomposition. Most soils
when left to themselves naturally inn
prove in fertility and productiveness.
A reef formed by coral insects is soon
covered with vegetables of an inferior
sort. the seed being deposited by pass
ing birds. This vegetation by its de-
cay improves the soil and enables it to
produce better class of plants. At
length the soil becomes so rich that
grain, potatoes and many kinds of
fruit can be raised on it. In process of
time it will produce yams. melons,
bananas and pine-apples. Many coral
reefs and islands have become very
productive in this way. and have re-
ceived no fertilizing material from
without except that deposited by birds.
The great lava beds formed during the
eruptions of volcanoes soon become
fertile in the same way. The surface of
the lava begins to disintegrate as soon
as it becomes cool by the action of the
elements. The next year seeds carried
on it by the winds find lodging-place.
terminate, and plants are produced.
AS they decay soil containing con-
siderable humus is formed. Each sue
cessive year more vegetable matter is
left OH the thin soil, that is well sup
piled with the mineral matter needed
by plants. Soon the lava bed becomes
n productive wheat-field of a vineyard.
Islands thrown up in the ocean and
formed most entirely of sand and
shells soon cease to be barren and un.
productive. Seeds brought by winds
or birds take root and by their decay
furnish the elements Of fertility. Tho
same thing takes place when the sur
face soil has been washed away from
the hard subsoil by floods. A new soil
is formed by the operations of nature.
Frost acts an important part in pulver-
izing the clay, and roots force them
selves through it, and when they
decay leave spaces through which the
water and air can circulate. Various
plants that live largely on air and
water grow, decay and make manure.
Many farmers appear to think that it
is necessary for vegetable matter TO
pass through the organs of digestion of
some animal before they become pos
sessed of any considerable fertilizing
value. The truth is the changes pro-
diced by the digestive organs add
nothing to the plants and grain that
are eaten by animals. They are par
TALLY decomposed by being masticated
and passed through the stomach and
intestines, so that they will rot easier
and become plant food quicker. But
nothing of value is added to them. On
the other hand, the most valuable pOr-
tons of them are taken away and be-
come parts of the animals. that cat
them or become milk or wool. 1t is
not necessary to burn plant in order
to make the potash in it available for
plant food; neither is it necessary to
have it eaten and vOided in order to Sc
cure the nitrogen and carbon it con-
tains.
Many farmers avail themselves of
the benefits of green manuring who
seem to be hardly aware of the fact
that they practice this method of bring
ing up the fertility of their
land. After they have failed to raise
good crops on old ground they break
up piece of pasture or meadow land
and secure a good return for their
labor. They have practiced one of
the most common forms of green
manuring. They have turned under
green grass and growing roots and
secured the plant food they contain.
They practice green manuring when
they plow under the weeds and grass
in stubble or grain field. A very
common method of breaking up the
fertility of piece of land is to sow it
to red clover, to NOW it one year, and
to pillow it under the crop next season.
Raising and blowing under green
crops is found to be the cheapest as well
as the quickest way of bringing up the
fertility of land that has long been de-
voted tt the production of grain. Rye.
peas, buckwheat, white turnips and
common corn. sown broadcast. are the
crops generally recommended. Some
sow fall rye on wheat-stubble as soon
as the crop is harvested. and pillow it
under about the last of May or the first
of June. The ground is then sOw1 to